Sony VAIO Joy Ride Fest..... Diamondback Domination

The Diamondback European riders went to the Joyride Festival in Poland this weekend and had one of the most successful race weekends in Diamondback's history!

The Joyride Festival is one of the largest bike festivals in Europe, and although only in its second year over 800 riders came from throughout Europe to compete in this unique event.
The venue is just outside the small town of Kluszkowce in the south of Poland, close to the beautiful Tatra mountains, on the shores of lake Czorsztyn.


lake Czorsztyn


Checking out the local wildlife

As well as the Sony VAIO Joy Ride Fest being a true bike event it's also a major music festival with some big acts and this year’s headliners were the Gorillaz sound system.
The Music event is completely free and set at the bottom of a ski slope so no one misses out on the action.


The Gorillaz rocked the ski slope

The DH race was supported by Diamondback Europe (Diamondback Downhill) with it came some world class competitors from all over Europe.
Nick Geoghegan, Joe Mallinson and Sam Johnson from the 44Racing Diamondback Rockstar team raced in the downhill, Gerard Plata in the Airbag best trick, Duncan McCann and Ken Baker in the OAP Downhill and Alasdair MacLennan in the Enduro.


The Rockstar boys

The Diamondback Downhill

http://joyridefest.com/dyscypliny/downhill
video of testing the track in the dry

The weather looked shocking before we set off and one website (which will not be mentioned) had the weather going from sunny/cloudy when checked one day to heavy snow the next.
Sure enough on our arrival it was raining and the cloud was so low it was covering the top of the DH track and the lift.

Wrapped up from the elements

After a few hours though the rain laid off enough for some practice runs.
The track was mega slippy but great fun, short steep and twisting with loads of roots starting to show through. It was clear from the start even with the weather that it was a rapid track and easily sub two minutes.

Duncan and Joe check out the new lines.....


........and then ride them


Nick and Joe


Joe on a practice run

The race format was simple two timed race runs with the fastest counting and with the track starting to dry out a bit, it was starting to speed up.
At the end of the first race runs only a few seconds separated the top five, with Nick Geoghegan in 3rd, Sam Johnson in 5th and Joe Mallinson in 9th .
But somewhat inevitably for the second run the rain came down again turning the course wet and slippy.
This didn’t affect the top guys who were getting faster and faster and with two riders to go Sam was in the hot seat with Nick running 2nd. But local knowledge just proved too strong.
Sam finished 3rd, Nick 4th and Joe 11th ending a great day of racing,


Nick on his way to 4th


Sam on his way to 3rd

Nice one Sam

Due to the bad weather the slope style was postponed until Sunday.
Unfortunately this meant that DB rider Gerard Plata would miss out due to flying back to Spain on Sunday morning.


Gerard sends it before the slope style is put off until Sunday

However over at the Airbag best trick competition (held on Saturday evening).
Gerard came 3rd with an insane backflip double tail whip


Nice one Gerard

The Enduro race was a hard one with some savage climbs and long sweeping downhill sections.
As an adopted "Diamondbacker" Alasdair Maclennan from Pinkbike rode the Enduro on a 160mm Scapegoat designed for the job.
His result not only showed his skill, but the ability of the bike. He only had chance to set it up just before the race, but came away with a great 3rd place.


Al looking smooth in the Enduro


Nice one Al

Piotr "Szwed" Szwedowski was riding the a-line hard all weekend and on hand to give riding tips and tech advice


Peter showing his skills

now it was time to PARTY like a Rockstar........


..........an aging Rockstar!


Round up video

Results:

Downhill (sponsored by Diamondback)

Pro

Sam Johnson (44Racing) 3rd
Nick Geoghegan (44Racing) 4th
Joe Mallinson (44Racing) 11th
James Baker (DB Europe) 28th

Masters 1
Duncan McCann (DB Europe) 8th

Masters 2
Ken Baker (DB Europe) 5th

Best Trick (Airbag)
Gerard Plata (DB Europe) 3rd

Enduro
Alasdair Maclennan (DB Europe) 3rd

Well done to all the guys

Thanks to:

http://www.diamondback.eu
http://www.rockstarenergy.co.uk
http://www.horizonwatches.com/